Miles O'Keeffe (1954-)

biography

Born in Ripley, Tennessee, on June 20, 1954, handsome 6'3" Miles O'Keeffe played football as a wide receiver at Mississippi State and Sewanee, graduating in 1977. He earned a degree in psychology and briefly worked as a prison counselor. In the late 1970s, O'Keeffe headed for California and played semi-professional rugby; afterward he drifted into working as a stunt man and, in the meanwhile, taking a few bit parts in films. His big break in 1981 came when he was cast as Tarzan in the film Tarzan, the Ape Man.

Beefcake photo of Miles O'Keeffe from the early 1980s

Released in 1981, Tarzan, the Ape Man was a vehicle for director John Derek's wife, Bo Derek. Upon its release, the film generated poor reviews by critics, primarily because the character Tarzan wasn't the focus of the film; rather, Jane (Bo Derek) has the majority of screen time. The film chalked up no fewer than six Razzie nominations in 1982. Bo Derek won the Razzie Award for worst actress (actually, she tied with Faye Dunaway), but the nod for Worst Film went to Mommie Dearest (1981; with Faye Dunaway, Steve Forrest, and Diana Scarwid).

the films of miles o'keeffe

Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)

LEFT and CENTER: Miles O'Keeffe as Tarzan. RIGHT: With Bo Derek on the December 1981 cover of Muscular Development

From O'Keeffe's last outing as Ator in Ator the Iron Warrior

Waxwork (1988)

As Dracula in the comedy/horror flick Waxwork

Liberty & Bash (1990)

Cartel (1990)

As Chuck Taylor in the action thriller Cartel

Unconditional Love (1999)

With Mette Holt in the action flick Unconditional Love

miles o'keeffe today

After acting in S.A.S. San Salvador and Sword of the Valiant, both released in 1982, O'Keeffe headed to Italy to shoot Ator, the Fighting Eagle (1983). Through 1987, he made a number of films in Italy, such as Ator the Invincible (1984), Lone Runner (1986), and Double Target (1987). Since then, O'Keeffe has made more than 20 films; in the year 2000 alone, he starred in four features. After a five-year hiatus, O'Keeffe returned to acting in the short film King of the Road, which was shot in the Pittsburgh area in the summer of 2008. Now 63 years old, he appears to be retired from acting.